Author: Miles Davis

This author has written 46 articles

Reopening of Heavitree Road in Exeter delayed by a month

Reopening of Heavitree Road in Exeter delayed by a month

Miles DavisDevon political reporterBBCThe main road out of Exeter will now be closed until 10 NovemberThe main road out of Exeter will now be closed until 10 November - a month later than when it was initially scheduled to reopen.The northbound section of Heavitree Road and the bus lane next to it will remain closed "due to the conditions of the road", Wales and West Utilities has said.The company is carrying out work on the gas network in…

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High Court clears Reform councillors of election overspending

Two Reform councillors and their election agent have had their names cleared by a High Court judge after being reported for overspending on election expenses by a colleague.Exeter councillors Neil Stevens, his brother Tony Stevens and their agent Rob Sheridan brought a civil case to the High Court in an attempt to protect their reputations as they face a police investigation.Justice Martin Spencer said any mistakes made by Neil Stevens and Rob Sheridan had been in good faith…

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Battle goes on over reopening of closed Dryden Road in Exeter

A highly controversial road closure will be the subject of a public consultation, it has been decided.Dryden Road in Exeter was closed to motorists temporarily in June 2020 and then permanently in 2022, to try to reduce traffic and create a safer cycling route.Campaigners against the closure said the move had increased congestion and pollution for people living nearby but cyclist groups said safety was paramount and the road should remain closed to cars.The Exeter Highways and Traffic…

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Cranbrook to get £3m community centre for families to ‘thrive’

A new town in Devon will receive £3m to create a community space with facilities for families and young people.Devon County Council's cabinet has agreed to allocate the money from housing developer contributions for the project in Cranbrook, near Exeter.The new facility will provide health services for young people "who are at risk of poor outcomes" as part of a larger leisure centre scheme that is being worked on.The council said Cranbrook had a much younger population than…

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Discussions open over £7m libraries budget for Devon

Discussions open over £7m libraries budget for Devon

Miles DavisDevon political reporterLibraries UnlimitedAlex Kittow, of Libraries Unlimited, said people were using libraries differently nowLibraries are now "community hubs" rather than just places to borrow books, according to the boss of the library service in Devon.Libraries Unlimited chief executive Alex Kittow has welcomed the prospect of a consultation on the future of the county's libraries and urged the public to have their say.It comes as Devon County Council looks at ways of reducing its annual payment of…

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Heavitree Road in Exeter closed for an extra week

A main road closure that has caused major traffic problems in Exeter will be closed for a week longer than expected due to engineering problems.Heavitree Road - the main bus route in and out of Exeter - will now be closed heading out of the city until Monday 13 October.The road was due to reopen last Sunday but Wales and West Utilities said work to upgrade the gas network had "taken longer than expected".The road closure has caused…

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‘Substantial savings’ will affect Devon library services

"Difficult decisions" which will have a direct impact on services are required to make savings at Devon's libraries, a report said.Devon County Council funds 50 libraries through a £7m contract with the charity Libraries Unlimited which ends on 31 March 2026.A recruitment freeze in place is already "impacting on the ability to deliver published opening hours" according to the report prepared for a council cabinet meeting to be held on Wednesday.A 12-week public consultation, due to start in…

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Devon reorganisation plans criticised by Exeter council leader

Devon reorganisation plans criticised by Exeter council leader

Miles DavisDevon political reporterBBCExeter City Council leader Phil Bialyk wants to see the city expand to form a new unitary authorityPlans to reorganise local government in Devon have been heavily criticised by a rival council leader.All of the district councils and the county council will be abolished and replaced by unitary authorities in the biggest shake-up of local government for 50 years.Devon County Council unveiled its plans on Thursday to create the unitary authority New Devon - retaining…

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Tonnes of rock to protect crumbling east Devon coastline

Tonnes of rock to protect crumbling east Devon coastline

Miles DavisDevon political reporterMiles Davis/BBCThousands of tonnes of rocks are being used to protect the coast at Seaton Hole Thousands of tonnes of rock are being delivered by sea to protect crumbling cliffs.About 6,500 tonnes of rock are being brought by barge to Seaton beach on the south coast of Devon, East Devon District Council (EDDC) has said.It said the rock armour would be used to reinforce the base of the cliffs at Seaton Hole where there have…

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Getting SEN support is ‘like fighting a war’

Getting SEN support is ‘like fighting a war’

Miles DavisDevon political reporterBBCRachel Turner says trying to get the education her daughter is legally entitled to is "a constant battle"The mother of an autistic teenager says her council's special educational needs service has "failed" her daughter.Rachel Turner from Exeter said getting the support her daughter was entitled to under a care plan agreement with Devon County Council was like "fighting a war".The council has overspent on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services by more than £50m…

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